This amazing game needs to be discussed!, andI do believe this to be an rpg. it has both exp and lvls.

Sleeping dogs was just released by Square-enix, and tells the story of wei shen an undercover cop in hong kong. This is an open world game with an amazing story, and an even more amazing local (hong kong). Not to mention the best voice acting i've ever seen in a game, it even features emma stone the love interest from the latest spider man movie.

not to mention that this is the closest we are ever getting to shenmue 3.

I'm not objecting, and I'm not saying that Sleeping Dogs is or isn't a RPG (since I know very little about it), just saying that using "you play a role" is about as all-inclusive as "you play a part in a conflict of some sort" or "you shoot a gun" or "you swing a sword."

They probably figure it should have a teenage main (main) character if it seems really questionable like Yakuza.Even though that was already done.And it does have (skill) leveling, just a lot less defined/emphasized than a regular rpg.